Ending all speculation on the fate of the National Eligibility- cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical colleges, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which will conduct it, has finally come out with a notification setting the schedule for it. Although private colleges, including some deemed universities, have been trying to evade NEET, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has made it clear it will replace the multiple tests for admission to medical colleges from the next academic year.

With the Dental Council of India (DCI) too proposing to scrap multiple examinations for entry to dental colleges, students could have a far less complicated admission tests schedule next year. The MCI had planned to introduce NEET from 2012-13, but the opposition from various states including Karnataka, forced it to put it off by a year. The MCI, however, lost no time in publishing the NEET-UG syllabus, helping students prepare for it well in advance. Owing to fears that state board students who don’t follow the national curriculum, could be at a disadvantage, the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has already launched several initiatives to ensure that students from the state excel in the examination. The Pre-University Board too has decided to train students in ways to cope with the NEET syllabus by holding several mock tests for them.

PU officials and several academicians believe the new centralised test has numerous advantages over the multiple exams held so far. A senior officer of the ministry of health and family welfare says there are several complaints against the various medical entrance exams conducted across the country. “Even the government admission tests are not foolproof. The new system will revolutionise the whole admission process, giving no room for nepotism or corruption. It will also put an end to the seat blocking racket which is rampant across the nation,” he says, adding, “We are not sure whether all states and colleges will come under the NEET umbrella immediately, but it is a first step towards realising the dream of a one nation-one test concept.”

NEET advantages
It will put a full stop to exam malpractices including impersonation and seat blocking.
Will give a fair opportunity to all students to get medical seats across the country.
Will lessen burden on students who otherwise have to appear for over 50 admission tests across the country.
Disadvantages
Students studying in regional languages like Kannada may find it
difficult.
Exam may further increase the divide between urban and rural students who don’t have modern education tools.

Core syllabus
for the National
Eligibility-Cum-Entrance (NEET) for admission to the MBBS Course

Physics (Class XI)
Physical world and
measurement
Kinematics
Laws of Motion
Work, Energy and Power
Motion of System of Particles and Rigid Body
Gravitation
Properties of Bulk Matter
Thermodynamics
Behaviour of Perfect Gas and Kinetic Theory
Oscillation and Waves

Physics (Class XII)
Electrostatics
Current Electricity
Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents
Electromagnetic Waves
Optics
Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation
Atoms and Nuclei
Electronic Devices

Chemistry (Class XI)
Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry
Structure of Atom
Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties
Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure
States of Matter: Gases and Liquids
Thermodynamics
Equilibrium
Redox Reactions
Hydrogen
s-Block Element (Alkali and Alkaline earth metals)
Some p-Block Elements
Organic Chemistry-Some Basic Principles and
Techniques
Hydrocarbons
Environmental Chemistry

Chemistry (Class XII)
Environmental Chemistry
Solutions
Electrochemistry
Chemical kinetics
Surface Chemistry
General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements
p-Block Elements
d and f Block Elements
Coordination Compounds
Haloalkanes and Haloarenes
Alcohols,Phenols and Ethers
Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids
Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen
Biomolecules
Polymers
Chemistry in Everyday Life

Biology (Class XI)
Diversity in Living World
Structures Organisation in Animals and Plants
Cell Structure and Function
Plant Physiology
Human Physiology

Biology (Class XII)
Ecology and Environment
Reproduction
Genetics and Evolution
Biology and Human Welfare
Biotechnology and its Applications

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Exam timetable
Schedule for online
submission of application without late fee
December 1, 2012 (10 am) to December 31, 2012 (5 pm)

Last date for receipt of confirmation page of online application in CBSE without late fee
For normal areas:
January 10, 2013
For remote areas : January 25, 2013

Schedule for online
submission of application with first late fee
January 10, 2013 (10 am) to January 15, 2013 (5pm)

Last date of receipt of confirmation page of online application in CBSE with late fee
For normal areas:
January 25, 2013
For remote areas: February 5, 2013

Schedule for online
submission of application with second late fee
January 16, 2013 (10 am) to January 31, 2013 (5 pm)

Last date of receipt of confirmation page of online application in CBSE with 2nd late fee
For normal areas: February 10, 2013
For remote areas: February 10, 2013
Date of uploading of admit cards on website applications without late fee: April 15, 2013

Application with late fee: April 30, 2013

Date of NEET-2013: May 12, 2013 (Sunday)
Declaration of result: Second week of June, 2013